X-Originating-IP: [208.8.57.31] Subject: RE: Propane stove issue Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 16:23:44-0500 X-MS-Has-Attach: yes X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: Propane stove issue Thread-Index: AcbmZdjW6fWQ5EWdQ/yu5vPu+H/U1gAs2jgA From: "Len Legge" <Len.Legge@wnco.com> To: "Jim Stoddard" <alienpilot3@comcast.net> Cc: "John Andrus" <John.Andrus@wnco.com>, "David Woodard" <David.Woodard@wnco.com>, "Lorie Fontenot" <Lorie.Fontenot@wnco.com>, "Elise May" <Elise.May@wnco.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 03 Oct 2006 21:23:45.0327 (UTC) FILETIME=[352EABF0:01C6E732] Jim, I apologize for the delay in answering your letter, but we needed to coordinate with several different departments to make sure that we have the correct procedures and information on your request to transport propane powered stoves on SWA. Thank you for providing all the information that you sent to us earlier. We had our representatives in Ground Operations, Flight Operations, and Occupational Safety / Health
review your request and have the following information. The answer to your question about transporting only new stoves is that SWA will allow new and used stoves that have been properly configured (no gas cylinders) and conditionally accepted to be shipped as baggage. While there may be some confusion when the passenger tries to check in the equipment, we want to try to ensure that our Customers are accommodated to the fullest extent possible. We understand your confusion on the information you researched and are presently taking steps to correct the information on our SWA Website. I have included the correct information (see Research Materials below) that should help your compatriots in their travels. We have coordinated with our Ground Operations personnel so they are aware of the situation and of your group's activities this coming weekend. We have further taken the liberty to have our Ground Operations personnel notify the Omaha station of the event this weekend, so they will be aware of the various requests for shipment.
I will follow this email up with a telephone call to cover these points and answer any further questions you may have. We hope you all have a great time this weekend!! Best regards, Len Legge Manager, Flight Operations Team Flight Operations Southwest Airlines Company Tel: 214-792-4815 Message from SWA Occupational Safety / Health Department: Our policy allows propone powered stoves to be transported as long as the propane cylinder is not included in the shipment. I will work with Interactive Marketing to update the information on southwest.com to make sure that it clarifies the intent. Research Material from our reference manuals: From the Storm Manual:
Camping Equipment (Stoves, Lanterns, etc.) Camping oriented baggage (backpacks, knapsacks, duffel bags, etc.) are good indicators that a Customer may be carrying camping equipment which might contain hazardous materials. Either a flammable liquid (white fuel, gasoline, diesel, etc.) or a flammable gas (propane/butane) usually fuels camping equipment. Stoves and lanterns are the items Customers normally attempt to carry. Southwest s policy is not to carry these items, with the following exceptions: Flammable Liquid Fueled Equipment: Camp stoves, heaters, lanterns or other flammable liquid fuel camp equipment will not be accepted as checked or carryon baggage unless the stove is brand new, unused and still in the manufacturer s package. We will not accept the flammable liquid fuel equipment if there is any evidence that the equipment has been used.
Flammable Gas Fueled Equipment: Camp Stoves, heaters, lanterns or other camping equipment that uses compressed gas cylinders will be conditionally accepted as checked or carryon baggage. The cylinders themselves must be removed and are prohibited in checked and carryon baggage- whether they are empty or full. (Bold and Italics added for emphasis) Conditional acceptance is defined such that the SWA agent will inspect the equipment to verify that the gas cylinder has been disconnected and is not present.